So, you are considering getting into the copywriting business and wondering where to start. When I first started, I thought I was doing content writing. Then, I started reading informative material about copywriting. That’s when I realized it was already in me!
As an aspiring copywriter, it’s in your best interest to read the best books for copywriting. It will help improve your career and meet your goals. One of the questions I get is the right copywriting books for beginners. I will reveal all the books that helped me launch my copywriting career and work with huge brands like Microsoft.
What are the Best Copywriting Books for Beginners?
If you are starting out, maybe you have a rough idea of copywriting. There are thousands of books about it, yet most are not worth your attention. Some are good resources and make you an A-plus copywriter after some complete reads. Those are the books you should read over and over.
Copywriting books for beginners differ. Some have information, others have examples of copywriting, and others have both. If you are a beginner, it would be best to grab a variety of books and read them all. When I was starting, some of the books I read contradicted themselves in terms of strategies, such as social media. However, back then, social media marketing was not as effective as today.
So, if you are looking to start a copywriting business, you have just arrived at the best time. Right now, you can scale your current business through copy or market other people’s businesses and smile your way to the bank. We will list down the best books on copywriting for beginners below. All these books are worth the paper, not just the penny you’ll spend on them.
The Copywriter’s Handbook by Bob Bly
This is an old one, one of the first books I read. Bob has updated the book several times to reflect the current copywriting trends. It provides information on all types of projects beginner copywriters can take. It also features suggestions for making your copy better.
Tested Advertising Methods by John Caples
The book is a classic but written in a modern tone. It’s more about advertising and the art of dealing with the minds and emotions of human beings. The book focuses on self-interest, broadcasting, and evoking curiosity. It’s one of the best books on copywriting for beginners. I recommend this book because it teaches you the art of advertising.
Interesting Books to Read for Copywriting to Improve Your Skills
Let’s now talk about improving yourself as a copywriter. In the dynamic world of copywriting, where markets shift, and technological impact is likely, you must keep tabs on the latest trends. You shouldn’t be using the same email marketing approach you used three years ago. Your goal is to inspire action from readers. If you are not, then you are not doing it right!
You will need fresh creative skills, adopt new organizational skills, and have interpersonal skills to work with other businesses or teams. Understanding the psychology of your audience and their buying behaviors is the ultimate goal. That’s why having the best books for learning copywriting on your bookshelf is important, even when you feel confident as a rockstar. Here’s a list of philosophical books to read for copywriting that will also help you:
- Understand why people are the way they are.
- Improve your creative writing.
- Understand decision-making.
- Help build and grow your copywriting business.
The Universe Has Your Back by Gabrielle Bernstein
This powerful book is not about copywriting itself but you as a copywriter. It’s for personal development. As a freelancer, you require something that inspires you—a mindset over everything. What’s on your mind shapes reality and determines your future.
“The Universe Has Your Back” helps you improve and grow. You should have it beside you all the time. Through the book, you’ll learn that there’s always a bigger plan for you. You are destined for greatness. Also, as a copywriter, the book will teach you how to run a thriving business.
Breakthrough Advertising by Eugene Schwarz
You’ve been a copywriter for some years, an unstoppable force. Well, no copywriter gets it all. That’s why there are multiple books for copywriting. Every author has a different perspective, but Eugene has multiple perspectives. This not-easy-read book is all for you to unpack. All the mechanisms you need to help you write a direct response that customers will say not to are in there!
This is one of the most expensive copywriting books, hands down, but it has some of the most practical insights you need to take your copywriting to the next level. It teaches you that the value of your ad is not based on the number of words you write. The power that makes copy and advertising work is not from them but from the market itself. There is more to learn in the book.
Best Books for Learning Copywriting that are Affordable
To improve your copywriting, get more leads and conversions, and build an extra revenue stream, you would want to get the best copywriting books. However, you are just starting and on a tight budget. You don’t need to break the bank to get one or several books to help kickstart your career. What if I told you there are tens of books that won’t cost you an arm and a leg? Here are the most affordable copywriting books for beginners and experienced copywriters.
The Fortune Cookie Principle by Bernadette Jiwa
The book teaches you about branding. It helps you learn the most important things to tell your customers. Bernadette talks about content and copy that builds a brand and establishes a relationship with your audience. The book goes for less than $10!
Adweek Copywriting Handbook by Joe Sugarman
This is one of the highest-rated copywriting books on the market. The book was featured in The New York Times, reaffirming that it’s a must-have for every copywriter. Luckily, it’s affordable, under $15.
The book not only teaches you to write persuasive copy but also provides valuable advice and great examples to help kickstart your career. Copywriting is a mental process. “Adweek Copywriting Handbook” guides you through creating and putting that onto paper to selling a product or service.
Scientific Advertising by Claude Hopkins
One of the most interesting books for advertising is Scientific Advertising. Everyone in advertising should get this 1923 book. It might be a 100-year-old bool, but it covers today’s marketing principles. Do you want to learn how to target every reader individually? This is the book for you!
It teaches you human psychology and how to sell with words. The book is written on the fundamentals of testing, and when you buy the book, you also get another one, “My Life in Advertising,” which provides you with first-hand experience of the author. One of the lessons in “Scientific Advertising” is that you should not judge an ad by how it looks but by how well it converts.
Free Books for Copywriting
You can learn copywriting without spending a dime. There are freely available e-books to set your ship to sail. From the e-books, you can learn the basics of copywriting. What’s the catch? You can help other aspiring copywriters learn about e-books by sharing details on social media. Anyone can write words, but writing something enjoyable and relatable takes an exceptional talent. As long as you are inspired, the sky is the limit when learning copywriting. Here are the free books for copywriting.
The Boron Letters by Gary Halbert
This is going to be an interesting one. Gary was a kickass infomarketer during his days. He was the OG of ads, so good that it got him a spot in the big house. The man who wrote copy for Rolls-Royce, generating millions of dollars, ended up in the pen in 1984. While there, Gary decided to make the most of it – writing to his son. Thus, “The Boron Letters,” came to life!
The letters carry interesting lessons from life to business to copywriting. The tricks of copywriting, storytelling, not watching what people say but focusing on what they do, sentence structure and everything you need to know are inside The Boron Letters. Initially, you could only get with a subscription, but now, you just have to know where to look.
The ABC of Copywriting by Tom Albrighton
The e-book is the revised version of the “Copywriting Masterclass.” The author has been a copywriter for over 20 years. The 98-page e-book teaches you a range of things, including persuasive copywriting, spicing up your headlines to make them effective, striking an honest conversational tone, using the power of NLP to drive your point home, and writing compelling CTAs.
It also helps you understand customer’s decision-making from their perspective and how you can take advantage of that from your side of things. Everything you need to become a copywriting ninja and write powerful and punchy copy that converts is at your disposal for free. If you are a beginner, this should be your first read.
Wrapping up
Reading books is crucial to your development as a copywriter. If you don’t learn from those who went before us, some ending up in jail for it, how else can you be a great copywriter? While you develop your own strategies, also use the lessons learned from industry experts to improve your persuasiveness and help you create copy that converts. Get inspired by others’ best works.
